How to hold the pastel stick One problem when working in pastels is that you can smudge the work by lying the heal of your hand on your paper. To help avoid messing up your work, use your pinky as an anchor to hold your hand above the painting (see photo). Then hold the pastel stick between your middle and index fingers. Your pinky also acts as a pivoting point to help you move more freely when applying the pastel

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This blog will offer regular (I hope) tips about pastels and pastel painting that I have found useful over the years. Just random thoughts and comments.Please feel free to comment and to offer your own tips!!!. If you are into pastels or are wanting to start, I hope you will ask questions. I will be more than happy to answer - as best I can!Enjoy!!!

I taught pastel and portraits and gave workshops at the Huntington Museum of art for many years